Sump/ejector pump monitor and sump/ejector pump failure warning system

ABSTRACT

A sump, ejector, or other pump monitor configured to monitor the amperage of electric current power supplied through the pump monitor to a pump and communicate one or more signals regarding the amperage or variations in amperage to a remote signal receiving device which indicate a predicted failure or actual failure of the pump. In various embodiments, the pump monitor operates with a remote pump failure warning system. The remote signal receiving device or remote pump failure warning system provides suitable warnings to one or more user access devices.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application is a continuation of, and claims priority to and thebenefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/597,972, which was filedon May 17, 2017, which is a continuation of, claims priority to and thebenefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/295,685, which was filedon Jun. 4, 2014, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,696,360 on Jul. 4,2017, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND

Sump pumps and ejector pumps are widely used throughout the world insumps, basins, or pits of structures (such as buildings and houses) topump water or waste from sanitary collection sumps, basins, or pits toprevent flooding of these structures. Many structures have multiplesumps, basins, or pits and multiple sump or ejector pumps to pump wateror waste from sanitary collection sumps, basins, or pits to preventflooding.

Many different types of sump and ejector pumps are commerciallyavailable. Sump and ejector pumps typically run on AC power (such asthough a conventional electrical current source) or on DC power (such asthough a battery). Sump and ejector pumps are typically submersible inthe sump, basin or pit and typically include a pump and an automaticfloat switch. The automatic float switch turns the pump on when thewater level in the sump, basin, or pit rises above a predetermined leveland shuts the pump off when the water level in the sump, basin, or pitis below the predetermined level (as a result of pump operation).Automatic mechanical and electronic float switches are well-known in theindustry for use in controlling the level of water in the sump, basin,or pit and are commonly are referred to as float, tether, or electronicsensor type switches.

Sump and ejector pumps can fail to operate or fully operate due to manydifferent reasons such as a partial or complete malfunction, breakage,or breakdown of one or more components of the pump (such as the switchor impeller blade), a power source outage or disconnection to the pump,or a blockage in the pump. Sump and ejector pumps are prone to suchoperational failures due to the environment in the sump, basin, or pitthat they operate in, due to the fact that they sometimes sit for longperiods of time without operating, and due to the fact that theysometimes frequently turn on and off.

When a sump or ejector pump fails to operate or fully operate, the waterlevel can rise in the sump, basin, or pit and ultimately may lead to aflood in the location of the structure near the pump, in significantparts of the structure, or throughout the entire structure. Even minoramounts of flooding can cause significant damage to a structure (or thecontents therein), which is typically expensive to repair or replace. Itis thus very important that sump and ejector pumps properly operate atall times and that non-operating, malfunctioning, broken, or blockedpumps are quickly repaired or replaced. Since sump and ejector pumps arein the sumps, basins, or pits, regular maintenance or maintenance checkson these pumps are too often not preformed.

To address these issues, many sump and ejector pump failure detectionsystems have been proposed. Many of these proposed failure detectionsystems are built into the pump itself. Various proposed pump failuredetection systems detect when a pump is failing to operate in a normalmode or operate at all. For example, various proposed pump failuredetection systems detect one or more of the following: (a) a failure ofelectrical power condition; (b) a jammed or blockage condition; (c) adry running condition; (d) a stuck float condition; (e) an inadequatepumping rate condition; and (f) a switch failure condition.

One problem with various proposed sump and ejector pump failuredetection systems is that by the time that failure detection system hasdetected the pump failure, it is often too late to fix or replace thepump and thus too late to prevent water damage to the structure (or itcontents) due to rising water levels or flooding.

Another problem with various proposed sump and ejector pump failuredetection systems is that they have not been widely commercialized dueto costs, complications, actual operational effectiveness, or for otherreasons.

One widely employed solution to these issues is to provide a back-uppump which is usually powered by one or more batteries. While batterypowered back-up pumps can prevent certain flooding when a main ACpowered pump is not operational or fully operational, such back-up pumpsystems increase the cost and complication of the structures, onlyoperate for the life of the batteries, and are also subject to their ownfailures.

Another proposed solution to these issues is to provide water sensoralarms adjacent to the sump or ejector pumps or in proximity to thesumps, basins, or pits. While such sensor alarms can sense that a sumpor ejector pump is not operational or fully operational due to risingwater levels, these systems often detect the problem too late to fix orreplace the pump and thus too late to prevent water damage to thestructure (or it contents) due to rising water levels or flooding.

Another problem with various proposed sump or ejector pump failuredetection systems is that they are often configured for specific pumpsand are often not configured to be used with the wide variety ofdifferent types of commercially available pumps.

Another problem with various proposed sump and ejector pump failuredetection systems is that they are difficult and/or time consuming toinstall.

Another problem with various proposed sump and ejector pump failuredetection systems is that they are complicated and thus subject toadditional types of failures.

Another problem with various proposed sump and ejector pump failuredetection systems is that they are relatively expensive to manufacture,purchase, or install.

Accordingly, there is a need to solve these problems.

SUMMARY

Various embodiments of the present disclosure solve the above problemsby providing a sump or ejector pump monitor that predicts when a pump islikely to fail or is actually failing and that provides one or morewarning signals which indicate that the pump is likely to fail or isactually failing.

In various embodiments, the pump monitor of the present disclosuregenerally includes: (a) a portable housing; (b) an electric plugreceptacle supported by the housing and configured to receive anelectrical power source plug of a pump; (c) a power cord supported bythe housing and configured to be plugged into an electrical power sourceof a structure; (d) a transmitter supported by the housing andconfigured to send out one or more signals; (e) one or more indicators(such as one or more displays) supported by the housing and configuredto indicate or display information; (f) an amperage detector supportedby the housing and configured to determine the amperage of the electriccurrent provided to the pump through the pump monitor; (g) an onboardcomputer supported by the housing and configured to determine variationsor deviations from normal in the amperage of the electric currentprovided to the pump through the pump monitor; and (h) one or more otherelectrical or mechanical components supported by the housing andconfigured to facilitate the operation of the transmitter, theindicator(s), the amperage detector, and the onboard computer. Theelectric plug receptacle, power cord, transmitter, indicator(s),amperage detector, computer, and the other electrical and mechanicalcomponents are arranged or configured such that after: (a) the powercord is plugged into a electric power source; and (b) the electric plugof the pump is plugged into the receptacle, (c) the pump will receiveits power through the pump monitor; (d) the amperage detector willmonitor the amperage of the electric current supplied through the pumpmonitor to the pump; (e) the onboard computer will determine variationsof the amperage of the electric current provided to or used by the pumpand the likelihood of or actual failure of the pump; and (f) thetransmitter will send out one or more warning signals regarding apredicted failure or actual failure of the pump by the onboard computer.

In various embodiments, to install the sump or ejector pump monitor ofthe present disclosure, the electric power plug of the pump is unpluggedfrom the electric power supply of the structure and plugged into thepump monitor, and the electric power plug of the pump monitor is pluggedinto the electric power supply of the structure. The pump monitor of thepresent disclosure is thus easy to install, and can be installed veryquickly without having to remove an existing pump from a sump, basin, orpit.

The present disclosure contemplates various different operationalconfigurations of the sump or ejector pump monitor.

In a first type of operational configuration for the above exampleembodiment, the pump monitor and specifically the amperage detectorcontinuously or regularly monitors the amperage of the electric currentsupplied to the pump through the pump monitor, and the onboard computerdetermines if there are any variations or deviations in the amperagewhich indicate an impending failure or an actual failure of the pump.This can be considered a “smart” pump monitor because the pump monitoritself is determining or predicting the potential failure or actualfailure. When such variations or deviations are detected and suchfailure is predicted or actual, the transmitter sends one or morewarning signals to a remote signal receiving device which in turn alertsthe user of such predicted or impending failure or an actual failure ofthe pump. In certain embodiments, the remote signal receiving device isan alarm system which in turn notifies the user. In other embodiments,the remote signal receiving device is a pump failure warning system asdescribed herein which in turn notifies the user. In other embodiments,the remote signal receiving device is a user access device such as auser's smart phone, computing tablet, desktop or laptop computer, orother suitable device which notifies the user.

In a second type of operational configuration, the sump or ejector pumpmonitor and specifically the amperage detector continuously or regularlymonitors the amperage of the electric current supplied to the pumpthrough the pump monitor, and the transmitter sends signals representingthe amperage levels or readings to a remote signal receiving device(such a pump failure warning system described herein) that receivesthese signals. The remote signal receiving device determines if thereare any variations or deviations in the amperage level which indicate animpending failure or actual failure of the pump. In such case, theremote signal receiving device (or other suitable device) notifies orcauses the user to be notified of the predicted or impending failure oractual failure of the pump. This can be considered more of a “dumb” pumpmonitor because it is not itself predicting or determining the predictedor impending failure or actual failure of the pump. In certain suchembodiments, the “dumb” pump monitor may not need the onboard computerto operate.

Other operational configurations of the sump or ejector pump monitorinclude desired combinations of these first and second operationalconfigurations. For example, in one embodiment, when the amperage levelsare not normal, the transmitter sends signals representing the amperagelevels to a remote signal receiving device that receives these signals.The pump monitor of various embodiments of the present disclosure isconfigured to work with a wide variety of different pumps as long as thepump has a power cord and a plug and normally operates at one or moreamperage levels or operates a certain levels in certain operation modes.

The pump monitor of various embodiments of the present disclosure isalso relatively inexpensive.

The pump monitor of various embodiments of the present disclosure isrelatively simple and easy to install.

As indicated above, the pump monitor of various embodiments of thepresent disclosure is also configured to operate in conjunction with abroader pump failure warning system as described in more detail below.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a pumpfailure warning system as described in more detail below.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will beapparent from the following detailed disclosure, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein like referencenumerals refer to like parts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of one embodiment of a sump orejector pump monitor of the present disclosure, and illustrating thehousing of the pump monitor with certain walls of the housing removed orshown in fragmentary to partially reveal the internal components of thehousing.

FIG. 2 is a schematic high level diagram of one embodiment of the sumpor ejector pump failure warning system of the present disclosure, andillustrating the pump failure warning system configured to communicatethrough a network with a plurality of pump monitors (connected to aplurality of pumps), a plurality of user access devices, and a pluralityof data providers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various example embodiments of the sump or ejector pump monitor and thesump or ejector pump failure warning system of the present disclosureare described in more detail below. For brevity, the sump or ejectorpump monitor of the present disclosure is sometimes referred to hereinas the pump monitor or the monitor. For brevity, the sump or ejectorpump failure warning system of the present disclosure is sometimesreferred to herein as the system. The term “user” is used herein toinclude the designated person responsible for the monitoring,maintenance, operation, repair, or replacement of the sump or ejectorpump. This may be a property owner such as a homeowner, or an operatoror maintainer of one or more structures or properties. The user may alsobe one or more people, but is referred to herein in the singular form.It should also be appreciated that the present pump monitor and the pumpfailure warning system of the present disclosure can be employed forother suitable pumps.

The Pump Monitor

Turing now to FIG. 1, one embodiment of the pump monitor of the presentdisclosure is generally illustrated and indicated by numeral 10. Thisillustrated monitor 10 generally includes: (a) a portable housing 20;(b) an electric plug receptacle 30 supported by the housing 20; (c) apower cord 40 supported by and extending from the housing 20; (d) atransmitter 50 supported by the housing 20; (e) an indicator 60supported by the housing 20; (f) an amperage detector 70 supported bythe housing 20; (g) an onboard computer 80 supported by the housing; and(h) one or more additional electrical or mechanical components (notshown) such as an on/off switch (not shown) supported by the housing 20.These electrical components are suitably electrically connected by theadditional electrical components. Generally, the electric plugreceptacle 30, power cord 40, transmitter 50, indicator 60, amperagedetector 70, onboard computer 80, and other electrical and mechanicalcomponents are arranged or configured and electrically and/ormechanically connected such that when the power cord 40 is plugged intoan electric power source and an electric plug (not shown) of a pump (notshown) is plugged into the receptacle 30, the pump 10 will receive itselectric power through pump monitor 10, the amperage detector 70 willmonitor the amperage levels of the electric current supplied through thepump monitor 10 to the pump, the onboard computer 80 will determine ifthe pump is likely to fail or is actually failing, and the transmitter50 will send out one or more warning signals regarding any predictedfailure or actual failure of the pump.

More specifically, the housing 20 includes a plurality of suitablyconnected walls 20. It should be appreciated that any suitable housingmay be employed in accordance with the present disclosure. It shouldalso be appreciated that in various embodiments, the housing isinsulated and/or water proof.

The electric plug receptacle 30 is supported by one or more of the wallsof the housing 20. The electric plug receptacle 30 is configured toreceive a conventional AC power electric plug (not shown) of a pump (notshown) to provide electric current to the pump. It should be appreciatedthat the electric plug receptacle 30 may be connected to the housing 20in any suitable manner and position. It should also be appreciated thatany suitable alternative electric plug receptacle (including but notlimited to a GFI receptacle) may be employed in accordance with thepresent disclosure.

The power cord 40 is supported by and extends from one of the walls ofthe housing 20. The power cord 40 includes an electric plug 42 which isconfigured to be plugged into a conventional AC electric power sourceoutlet or receptacle (not shown) in this example embodiment. It shouldbe appreciated that the power cord 40 may be connected to the housing 20in any suitable manner and position. It should also be appreciated thatany suitable alternative power cord may be employed in accordance withthe present disclosure.

The transmitter 50 is positioned in and connected to the housing 20.Although not shown, the transmitter 50, in various embodiments, includesa suitable antenna (not shown) which may or may not extend out of thehousing. The transmitter 50 can be or include any suitable type oftransmitting device. In certain embodiments of the present disclosure,the transmitter 50 is configured to only send out signals. In otherembodiments of the present disclosure, the transmitter 50 is configuredto send out and receive signals to one or more remote signal receivingdevices. In other embodiments of the present disclosure, the transmitter50 includes a signal receiver (not shown) and a separate signaltransmitter (not shown). In certain embodiments, the transmitter 50 usescellular communications. In other embodiments, the transmitter 50 sendsout signals through another data network such as the internet. However,it should be appreciated that the transmitter 50 can use any suitabletype of communications. It should also be appreciated that in otherembodiments, the pump monitor can be configured to communicate with oneor more remote signal receiving devices (such as an alarm system oralarm system panel) through one or more wires that are plugged into orotherwise attached to the pump monitor and such signal receivingdevices. It should also be appreciated that the alarm system or alarmsystem panel may include one or more chips or circuitry configured tosuitably process such signals).

The indicator 60 is attached to and supported by one of the walls of thehousing 20 in this illustrated embodiment. In certain embodiments, theindicator 60 is configured to indicate that the pump monitor 10 isworking or working properly. In certain such embodiments, the indicator60 includes a suitable light source such one or more light emittingdiodes or LEDs such as LED 62 which when lit indicates that the pumpmonitor 10 is working or working properly.

In certain embodiments, the indicator 60 includes a meter such as meter64 which continuously or regularly indicates the amperage measurementsthat the amperage detector 70 detects. In certain embodiments as in thisillustrated embodiment, the indicator 60 includes both a suitable lightsource such as LED 62 and a meter such as meter 64. It should beappreciated that any suitable alternative indicators may be employed inaccordance with the present disclosure. It should also be appreciatedthat in certain embodiments, the pump monitor of the present disclosuredoes not include any indicators. In certain embodiments withoutindicators, the user will know that the pump monitor is working becausethe user receives one or more signals from the pump monitor to a useraccess device as further explained below.

In certain embodiments, the indicator 60 is configured to indicate thatthe pump is working or working properly and/or to indicate that the pumpis not working, not working properly, or is likely to fail. In certainsuch embodiments, the indicator 60 includes a suitable light source (notshown) such one or more light emitting diodes or LEDs which when litindicates that the pump is not working, not working properly, or islikely to fail. It should be appreciated that this light source can bedifferent (such as a different color) than the light source thatindicates that the pump monitor is working or working properly.

The onboard computer 80 is positioned in and suitably connected to thehousing 20. It should be appreciated that the onboard computer 80 may beany suitable type of automatic electrical or electronic computing deviceor circuit board. For example, in one example embodiment, the onboardcomputer includes a processor or microprocessor and a memory device. Inanother example embodiment, the onboard computer includes an electriccircuit hard wired to perform the necessary functions or determinationsdescribed herein. For this example embodiment, the onboard computer 80is configured to: (a) determine variations or deviations from normal inthe amperage of the electric current provided to or used by the pump asfurther described below; (b) determine if the variations or deviationsindicate an actual failure of the pump or indicate an impending failureof the pump; and (c) cause the transmitter 50 to send out one or moresignals indicating any actual failure or impending failure. The presentdisclosure contemplates that the onboard computer can additionally causethe transmitter to send one or more other signals such as “power on”signals, “normal operation” signals, or other suitable communicationsignals to one or more remote signal receiving devices (such as a pumpfailure warning system or an alarm system).

The other electrical or mechanical components (not shown) are positionedin and connected to the housing and include various necessary electricalor mechanical components which enable electric plug receptacle 30, thepower cord 40, the transmitter 50, the indicator 60, the amperagedetector 70 and the onboard computer 80 to function together asdescribed herein. It should be appreciated that any suitable electricaland mechanical components may be employed in accordance with the presentdisclosure.

The amperage detector 70 is positioned in and connected to the housing20. The amperage detector 70 can be any suitable type of amperagedetecting device which provides the functions described herein.Amperage, amperes, or amps are terms often used to refer to a measure ofelectrical current. In simple terms, amperage, amperes, or amps isconsidered a measure of the amount of electrons moving in a circuit. Inother words, amperage (i.e., in the International System of Units or SIunit for electrical current) is the amount of electrical charge thatflows through a conductor in a given time period. For example, oneampere is a charge of one coulomb—about 6.241×1018 electrons—per secondflowing in a conductor (such as a wire) past a given point. Electricaldevices need a certain amount of electrical energy or current to performtheir functions and are often rated according to their amperage, or theamount of electric current they typically draw from a main power supplywhen operating normally. A small electric device (such as a toaster)usually needs less power than a larger electric appliance (such as arefrigerator). A large electric motor usually draws or uses more amps(such as 100 amps of electric current), while a small heating elementusually draws or uses less amps (such as 10 amps of electric current).

As indicated above, there are many different types of commerciallyavailable sump or ejector pumps. While many of the sump or ejector pumpsoperate at a same or substantially same amperage level, variouscommercially available sump or ejector pumps operate at different orsubstantially different amperage levels. For example, sump pumps withlarger pumps will typically operate at higher amperage levels. Thepresent disclosure accounts for or takes into account these operationalamperage level differences in several different manners as discussedbelow to provide a more universal pump monitor.

Regardless of the normal amperage level, variations or deviations away(i.e., above or below) from the normal amperage level or range are anindication of a potential failure or actual failure of the pump. Eachdifferent type of variation or deviation also can indicate differentreasons for the failure and different likelihoods of failure (and theexpected time frames for the failure). A pump that normally operates ata single amperage level will have the following possible variation ordeviation conditions:

(1) starts at higher than normal amps and runs at normal amps;

(2) starts at normal amps and runs at higher than normal amps;

(3) starts and runs at higher than normal amps;

(4) starts at lower than normal amps and runs at normal amps;

(5) starts at normal amps and runs at lower than normal amps;

(6) starts and runs at lower than normal amps;

(7) starts at lower than normal amps and runs at higher than normalamps; and

(8) starts at higher than normal amps and runs at lower than normalamps.

Certain sump or ejector pumps also have multiple different normaloperational amperage levels or ranges. For example, certain pumps havetwo different normal operational amperage levels or ranges. The firstamperage level or range is when the pump first starts or goes on (eachtime the water level rises in the sump, basin, or pit above apredetermined level), and the second amperage level or range is afterstarting and when the pump is normally operating to pump water. Forexample, a sump pump may normally start at or go on at 6 amps andnormally operate or run at 3 amps. Variations or deviations away (i.e.,above or below) from either or both of these normal amperage levels orranges are indications of a potential failure or actual failure of thesump pump. Each different type of variation or deviation also canindicate different reasons for the failure and different likelihoods offailure (and the expected time frames for the failure). A pump thatnormally operates at two different amperages will also have thefollowing possible variation or deviation conditions:

(1) starts at higher than normal amps and runs at normal amps;

(2) starts at normal amps and runs at higher than normal amps;

(3) starts and runs at higher than normal amps;

(4) starts at lower than normal amps and runs at normal amps;

(5) starts at normal amps and runs at lower than normal amps;

(6) starts and runs at lower than normal amps;

(7) starts at lower than normal amps and runs at higher than normalamps; and

(8) starts at higher than normal amps and runs at lower than normalamps.

Each one of these different amperage variation or deviation conditionsmay or may not indicate a different potential failure or actual failureof the pump, or reason for a potential failure or actual failure of thepump. For example, one variation or deviation condition may indicate apotential failure or actual failure due to a broken impeller or apartially blocked pump. The different amperage variations or deviationsmay also be different indicators for different pumps.

As mentioned above, the present disclosure contemplates variousdifferent operational configurations for the amperage detector and thepump monitor. The operational configurations are generally “smart” or“dumb” configurations.

In various “smart” configuration embodiments, the amperage detector 70detects the amount of amps used by the pump on a continuous or regularbasis and the onboard computer 80 determines any designated variationsor deviations of the amperage level from the normal amperage levels. Theonboard computer 80 determines if there are any variations or deviationsfrom the normal operation of the pump and alone (or in combination withother data as discussed below) and determines whether the pump is likelyto fail or is actually failing. In certain embodiments, thisdetermination includes how likely it is that the pump will fail and theestimated time frame when the pump will fail. The present disclosurecontemplates that these determinations can be made in any of a varietyof different manners. In these “smart” configurations, the onboardcomputer will also be able to determine if power is being supplied tothe pump through the pump monitor 10 or there is a power outage ordisconnection.

In various “smart” configuration embodiments, the onboard computer 80“knows” or has the appropriate data that represents the amperage levelor levels that the specific pump that the pump monitor is connected towill normally start and normally operate at. It should be appreciatedthat the onboard computer can have or obtain this normal amperage leveldata in a variety of different manners in accordance with the presentdisclosure.

In a first manner, the onboard computer is initiated with apredetermined amperage level and the monitor is rated for a pump withthat amperage level. For example, the pump monitor is configured tomonitor pumps which operate at 3 amps and any significant variation fromthe 3 amp level causes the onboard computer to cause the transmitter tosend out one or more signals regarding the variation to a remote signalreceiving device. In another example, the pump monitor is configured tomonitor pumps which start at 6 amps and operate at 3 amps and anysignificant variation from the starting 6 amp level or the operating 3amp level causes the onboard computer to cause the transmitter to sendout one or more signals regarding the variation to one or more remotesignal receiving devices (such as an alarm system or a pump failurewarning system).

In a second manner, the onboard computer is initiated with a pluralityof predetermined amperage levels and the pump monitor is rated for apump having any one of those normal amperage levels. In this embodiment,the pump monitor first operates in an initiation mode, where the onboardcomputer determines which of the different predetermined amperage levelor levels is appropriate for the pump connected to that pump monitor. Inthis way, during the initiation mode, the pump monitor learns the normaloperating amperage level(s) of the pump.

In a third manner, the onboard computer does not have any presetamperage level. The pump monitor first operates in an initiation mode,where the onboard computer determines the normal amperage level orlevels of the pump connected to that pump monitor.

In a forth manner, the onboard computer does not have any presetamperage level. The transmitter of the pump monitor is configured toreceive signals from one or more remote devices (such as a pump failurewarning system). The remote device sends the transmitter first signalswhich indicate the normal amperage level or levels of the pump connectedto that pump monitor. In this embodiment, a user may enter pump relatedinformation into a user access device which in turn causes these signalsto be sent to the transmitter directly or through remote device (such asa pump failure warning system).

In a fifth manner, the onboard computer does not have any presetamperage level. The pump monitor includes an input device such as aswitch or dial (not shown) which is suitably connected to the onboardcomputer. The input device enables the user to input the normal amperagelevel or levels of the pump connected to that pump monitor. In oneembodiment, the onboard computer stores this inputted information.

It should be appreciated that other suitable manners of providing theonboard computer with the appropriate amperage levels may be employed inaccordance with the present disclosure.

In various “dumb” configuration embodiments, the amperage detectordetects the amount of amps used by the pump on a continuous or regularbasis and the transmitter sends signals to one or more remote signalreceiving devices (such as a pump failure warning system) which receivesthese signals and determines if there are any variations in the amperageamounts detected. In these “dumb” embodiments, the pump monitor acts asa dumb device because it does not itself determine if there arevariations or deviations from normal operation of the pump and thus doesnot determine or predict a potential failure or actual failure. In theseembodiments, the pump monitor can be used with any pump regardless ofthe normal amperage level(s) of the pump because the pump monitor doesnot need to know these normal amperages level(s) to function. In certainof these embodiments, the pump monitor does not need to have an onboardcomputer.

In various “dumb” configuration embodiments, the remote signal receivingdevice (such as a pump failure warning system) computer which receivesthe signals from the transmitter determines based on these signals orthe data provided by these signals if there are any variations ordeviations from the normal operation of the pump and whether the pump islikely to fail or is actually failing. The remote signal receivingdevice is configured to use the data from these signals and dataregarding the normal amperage levels of the pump to determine the actualfailure or impending failure. It should be appreciated that the remotesignal receiving device can have or obtain this normal amperage leveldata for the specific pump that the pump monitor is connected to in avariety of different manners in accordance with the present disclosure.

If the remote signal receiving device does not receive signals from thepump monitor regarding the amperage levels for (or a heartbeat orworking properly signal) designated periods of time, the remote signalreceiving device can determine that there is something wrong such as apower outage.

In a first manner, the remote signal receiving device is initiated witha predetermined amperage level and the pump monitor is rated for a pumpwith that amperage level.

In a second manner, the remote signal receiving device is initiated witha plurality of predetermined amperage levels and the pump monitor israted for a pump having any one of those normal operating amperagelevels. In this embodiment, the pump monitor first operates in aninitiation mode, where the remote signal receiving device determineswhich of the different predetermined amperage levels is appropriate forthe pump connected to that pump monitor.

In a third manner, the remote signal receiving device does not have anypreset amperage levels. The pump monitor first operates in an initiationmode, and the remote signal receiving device determines the normalamperage level or levels of the pump connected to that pump monitor.

In a fourth manner, the remote signal receiving device does not have anypreset amperage level. The remote signal receiving device receives aninput from a device such as a user access device of the normal amperagelevel or levels of the pump connected to that pump monitor.

In a fifth manner, the remote signal receiving device does not have anypreset amperage level. In one such embodiment, the pump monitor includesan input device such as a switch or dial (not shown). The input deviceenables the user to input the normal amperage level or levels of thepump connected to that pump monitor. In one such embodiment, thetransmitter transmits this information to the remote signal receivingdevice.

It should be appreciated that other suitable manners of providing theremote signal receiving device with the appropriate amperage levels maybe employed in accordance with the present disclosure.

In various embodiments, regardless of whether the determination is madeby the onboard computer or the remote signal receiving device, if thedetermination is that the pump is not actually failing but will fail oris likely to fail relatively soon, the determination in variousembodiments includes how likely it is that the pump will fail and theestimated time frame when the pump will fail.

For example, if a pump normally operates at 3 amps and starts to operateat 3.5 amps for a period of time and then starts to operate at 4 ampsfor a period of time, the onboard computer or the remote signalreceiving device can be configured to detect this pattern and causeappropriate level warnings to be provided to the user. In oneembodiment, the first warning is a first or low level warning whichindicates a potential issue with the pump (such as the beginning of ablockage) which is causing the amperage level variation (such as a spikein the amperage usage level). In one embodiment, the second warning is asecond or higher level warning which indicates a higher level potentialissue with the pump. In one embodiment, the third warning is a highestlevel warning which indicates a failure of the pump.

It should thus be appreciated that the present disclosure contemplatesthat all of the warnings are the same in certain embodiments, and inother embodiments, the warnings provided to the user through the useraccess device vary in level, in frequency, and in formatting provided tothe user.

In various alternative embodiments, the onboard computer or the remotesignal receiving device is configured to determine the reason for theactual failure or likely failure based on the amount of the variation inthe amperage level. For instance, the onboard computer or the remotesignal receiving device is configured in certain embodiments todetermine the difference between failures due to partial blockages orclogs, full blockages or clogs, bad or broken impellers, etc. In suchembodiments, the onboard computer or the remote signal receiving deviceis configured to communicate or cause a communication of this reason forthe actual or expected failure or the likely reason for the actual orexpected failure. It should be appreciated that such information will bein most cases a prediction of the reason for the actual failure orlikely failure by the onboard computer or the remote signal receivingdevice.

In the above described embodiments, the pump monitor includes anamperage detector. It should be appreciated that in other embodiments ofthe present disclosure, the pump monitor additionally or alternativelyincludes a detector configured to monitor one or more othercharacteristics of the electric current supplied to the pump through thepump monitor.

More specifically, it should be appreciated that the pump monitor canalternatively or additionally measure other electric currentcharacteristics such as voltage. In simple terms, voltage is a measureof the pressure on the electrons to move out of the source. It isdirectly proportional to the pressure exerted on the electrons. In otherwords, the higher the voltage, the higher the pressure. For example, abattery of 3 volt will exert pressure on the electrons twice as hard asa battery of 1.5 volt. However, since voltage is more of a measurementof “potential” energy available, not necessarily how much is actuallyused by a pump, this characteristic may not be an optimal characteristicto measure for the monitor or system of the present disclosure.

It should also be appreciated that the pump monitor can alternatively oradditionally measure other electric current characteristics such aswattage. In simple terms, wattage or watts are used to measure powerconsumption. The wattage or watts used by an electrical device is ampsmultiplied by volts. A current of one amp at one volt uses one watt ofpower. An electrical device rated at 10 amps plugged in to a 110-voltsupply will use 1,110 watts.

It should thus be appreciated from the above, that in certainembodiments, the present disclosure provides a pump monitor including:(a) a portable housing; (b) an electric plug receptacle supported by thehousing and configured to receive an electrical power source plug of apump to enable the pump to receive electric current through pumpmonitor; (c) a power cord supported by the housing and configured to beplugged into an electrical power source; (d) a transmitter supported bythe housing;(e) an amperage detector supported by the housing andconfigured to monitor amperage of the electric current supplied throughthe pump monitor to the pump; and (f) an onboard computer supported bythe housing and configured to determine variations in amperage whichindicate a predicted failure or actual failure of the pump. It shouldfurther be appreciated from the above, that in certain such embodiments,(a) the onboard computer is configured to operate with the transmitterto send out at least one of signal to cause a user access device todisplay a warning regarding the predicted failure or actual failure ofthe pump; (b) the onboard computer is configured to operate with thetransmitter to send out at least one of signal to a remote signalreceiving device regarding the predicted failure or actual failure ofthe pump; (c) the onboard computer is configured to operate with thetransmitter to send out at least one of signal to cause a user accessdevice to display an indication of normal operation of the pump; (d) theonboard computer is configured to operate with the transmitter to sendout at least one of signal to a remote signal receiving deviceindicating normal operation of the pump; and/or (e) the onboard computeris configured to operate with the transmitter to send out at least oneof signal to a remote signal receiving device of amperage level data.

It should also thus be appreciated from the above, that in certainembodiments, the present disclosure provides a pump monitor including:(a) a portable housing; (b) an electric plug receptacle supported by thehousing and configured to receive an electrical power source plug of apump to enable the pump to receive electric current through pumpmonitor; (c) a power cord supported by the housing and configured to beplugged into an electrical power source; (d) a transmitter supported bythe housing; and (e) an amperage detector supported by the housing andconfigured to monitor amperage of the electric current supplied throughthe pump monitor to the pump. It should further be appreciated from theabove, that in certain such embodiments, (a) the transmitter isconfigured to send out at least one of signal to a remote signalreceiving device configured to determine variations in amperage whichindicate a predicted failure or actual failure of the pump and to causea user access device to display a warning regarding the predictedfailure or actual failure of the pump; (b) the transmitter is configuredto send out at least one of signal to a remote signal receiving deviceconfigured to cause a user access device to display an indication ofnormal operation of the pump; and/or (c) the transmitter is configuredto send out at least one of signal to a remote signal receiving deviceof amperage level data.

The Pump Failure Warning System

The present disclosure further includes a pump failure warning systemwhich generally includes one or more computers (such as servers)configured to communicate with one or more pump monitors (such as the“smart” or “dumb” pump monitors described above) and one or more useraccess devices as further described below. In various embodiments, thepump failure warning system provides certain or all of the functionsspecified above for the remote signal receiving device.

Referring now to FIG. 2, one embodiment of the pump failure warningsystem of the present disclosure is generally illustrated and indicatedby numeral 100. In this illustrated embodiment, the system 100 includesa computer such as a server (not shown) configured to communicatethrough a data network 110 with: (a) a plurality pump monitors 120 a,120 b, 120 c . . . 120 z (such as the pump monitors describe above)which are respectively connected to a plurality of pumps 130 a, 130 b,130 c . . . 130 z; (b) a plurality of user access devices 140 a, 140 b,140 c . . . 140 z, and (c) a plurality of third party data providersystems 160 a, 160 b, 160 c . . . 160Z. The system 100 is configured toenable users to use the user access devices to access and communicatewith the computer (or server) of the system 100 through the internet orany other suitable data network 110.

The computer (such as the server) includes one or more centralprocessing units (not shown) and one or more memory devices (not shown)which store instructions (not shown) and one or more databases (notshown). It should be appreciated that any suitable computer (or server)may be employed in the system 100 of the present disclosure. Thiscomputer in this illustrated embodiment is configured to operate withseveral pump monitors at a single structure or location or multiplestructures or locations.

The present disclosure contemplates that the user access devices 140 a,140 b, 140 c . . . 140 z, can include any suitable user computer and/orcomputerized communication device. Such devices include but are notlimited to: (a) a smart phone; (b) a tablet computing device; (c) alaptop computer; and (d) a desktop computer. Users operate the useraccess devices to access or communicate with the system 100 through thedata network 110. It should be appreciated that in various embodiments,the system 100 operates with the user access devices through one or moresoftware programs or applications downloaded to those user accessdevices (i.e., commonly called “apps”). It should be appreciated that inother various embodiments, the system 100 operates with the user accessdevices through one or more software programs or web sites accessible bythose user access devices. It should be appreciated that in variousembodiments, the system 100 operates with the user access devicesthrough one or more software programs or applications downloaded tothose user access devices and through one or more software programs orweb sites accessible by those user access devices. It should be furtherappreciated that the system 100 and the user access devices can co-actin any other suitable manner in accordance with the present disclosure.

In various embodiments, the system 100 requires the users to registerwith the system 100. In such embodiments, each user has a useridentifier (such as a name or e-mail address) and a password or otheridentifier to access or use the system 100. In various embodiments, auser must become a customer of the company or organization that operatesthe system 100 to use the system. It should be appreciated that thesystem 100 can be implemented by different types of operators such as,but not limited to, alarm companies, structure (such as home monitoringcompanies), property managers, pump retailers, pump wholesalers, pumpdistributor, and pump manufacturers.

The system 100 of the present disclosure causes the user access deviceto display: (a) certain images and/or information to the user regardingthe normal operation of the pump monitor and the pump as well as anywarnings regarding a predicted failure or actual failure of each of thepumps being monitored; and (b) enables the user to make certain inputssuch as acknowledging that a warning signal from the pump monitor wasreceived. Similarly, if the system is implemented in whole or partthrough an application downloaded to the user access device, theapplication causes the user access device to display certain imagesand/or information to the user and enables the user to make certaininputs. For brevity, throughout this application, sometimes instead ofstating that the system (or application thereof) causes the user accessdevice to display images and/or information to the user, the presentapplication simply states this by stating that the system displaysimages and/or information to the user. Similarly, for brevity, sometimesinstead of stating that the system (or application thereof) causes theuser access device to enable the user to make inputs (such as makingother inputs), the present application states this by stating that thesystem enables the user to make input of information. It should beappreciated that such statements are for brevity and not meant to limitthe present disclosure.

It should further be appreciated that the system communicates with thepump monitors, the user access devices, and any third party dataprovider systems (discussed below) through any suitable wired, partiallywired, or wireless data network. Thus, it should be appreciated that thesystem of the present disclosure can operate through any suitablecentral or remote network such as but not limited to a local areanetwork (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a cellular network, anintranet, and the internet.

As described above, the present disclosure contemplates that the pumpmonitors can have “smart” or “dumb” configurations. If the pump monitorhas a “smart” configuration, in various embodiments, the pump monitorcan send data such as normal operation data, amperage level data,amperage level variation or deviation data, and/or predicted failure oractual failure data to the remote signal receiving device. If the pumpmonitor has a “dumb” configuration, in various embodiments, the pumpmonitor sends normal operation or power on data and amperage level datato the remote signal receiving device.

In various embodiments, the system only takes into account the datareceived from the pump monitor to determine if the pump is likely tofail or is actually failing. In such situations, the system 100 sendsone or more signals to the appropriate user access device to alert theuser that the pump is likely to fail or is actually failing.

It should be appreciated as stated above that in various embodiments ofthe present disclosure, the system is configured to provide a singletype of warning to the user through the user access device.

It should also be appreciated as stated above that in various otherembodiments of the present disclosure, the system is configured toprovide any one of a plurality of different types of warnings to theuser through the user access device. For example, in these embodiments,the system 100 is configured to provide any of the followingnotifications and warnings to the user though the user access device:(1) pump operating normally; (2) pump operating at a determined amperagelevel; (3) pump not working; (4) pump not working properly; (5) pump notworking properly due likely to determined cause (such as partialblockage or bad impellor); (6) pump likely to fail; or (7) pump likelyto fail in determined time period (such determined number of hours ordetermined number of days).

It should also be appreciated that in various embodiments, the systemwill display through the user access device any suitable additionalinformation regarding the operation of the pump. For example, the pumpmonitor may transmit volume of water pumped data based on operationduration of the pump.

In various embodiments, the system additionally takes into account otherdata to determine if the pump is likely to fail or failing in additionto data provided by the pump monitor. More specifically, in variousembodiments, the system additionally takes into account one or more ofthe following pump data to predict the likelihood that the pump willfail: (a) type or model of the pump and known data related to thefailure rates of such pump; (b) previous failure(s) of the pump; (c) ageof the pump; (d) usage data regarding the pump (such as high or lowregular usage); (e) total quantity of pump activations; (f) quantity ofpump activations per designated time period (i.e., an hour, a day, aweek, a month, a year, etc); (g) volume of water pumped; (h) type ofwater pumped (e.g., sewage versus rain water); and (i) amount orcomponents of the pump which is continually submerged in the water. Itshould be appreciated that the system can obtain this data in anysuitable manner. In various embodiments, certain of this data ispreloaded into the system. In various embodiments, the systemaccumulates this data for each pump or type or model of pump as thesystem is used and thus becomes better able to predict failures based onthe continually growing data received by the system. In suchembodiments, the system suitably stores data regarding each of pumpsthat the pump monitors to build the system database.

In various embodiments, the system 100 takes into account one or more ofthe following external or location data to predict the likelihood thatthe pump will fail such as, but not limited to: (a) weather orprecipitation forecasts for the location of the structure; (b) groundwater levels for the location of the structure; and (c) flood warningsfor the location of the structure. It should be appreciated that thesystem obtains this data in a variety of different manners. In certainembodiments, the system obtains this data from one or more data providersources 160 a, 160 b, 160 c . . . 160 z.

For instance, if the amperage levels result in a determination of a highprobability of a pump failure, but all of the external or locationfactors the system has obtained (from a data provider source such as aweather information source) indicates that there is a low probability ofneed for operation of the pump and thus a low probability of a failure(because the pump will likely not need to operate in a designated timeperiod (or operate for any significant lengths of time in the designatedtime period), the system can set the pump failure prediction at a mediumlevel and provide such medium warning to the user through the respectiveuser access device.

In various embodiments, each time the system makes a determination ofwhether the pump is likely to fail, the system determines a likelihood(such a percentage) that the pump will fail, and communicates thisdetermination to the user access device for display to the user.

In various embodiments, the each time the system makes a determinationof whether the pump is likely to fail, the system determines alikelihood (such a percentage) that the pump will fail in a designatedperiod of time (such as a day, a week, or a month), and communicatesthis determination to the user access device for display to the user.

These predictions enable the user receiving these predictions though auser access device to determine the urgency of replacement or repair ofthe pump or each pump that the system is monitoring for the user. Forexample, a user may be a building maintainer which maintains multiplebuildings (such as 50 buildings) in many different locations in ametropolitan area where each building has multiple pumps (such as 5pumps). In this example, the user uses the system to monitor 250 pumps.If the user receives multiple failure warnings during or after a stormin the metropolitan area, the user can determine the order of servicefor the pumps based on the different warnings or warning levels.

It should thus be appreciated from the above, that in certainembodiments, the present disclosure provide a pump failure warningsystem including: a computer configured to communicate through a datanetwork with: (a) a portable first pump monitor connected to a firstpump, and (b) a first user access device; said computer configured tocause the first user access device to display: (i) information regardingnormal operation of the first pump based on one or more signals receivedfrom the first pump monitor, and (ii) a warning regarding one of apredicted failure and actual failure of the first pump; and saidcomputer configured to receive from the first user access device asignal representing an input made by a user acknowledging the warning.It should further be appreciated from the above, that in certain suchembodiments, (a) the computer is configured to receive from the firstpump monitor one of predicted failure data and actual failure data; (b)the computer is configured to receive from the first pump monitoramperage level data, and the computer is configured to determine anyactual failure of the first pump and any predicted failure of the firstpump; (c) the computer is configured to receive from the first pumpmonitor at least one of: normal operation data, amperage level data,amperage level variation or deviation data, and predicted failure oractual failure data; (d) the computer is configured to communicatethrough the data network with at least one third party data providersystem.

It should be appreciated that the pump failure warning system of thepresent disclosure can be employed in conjunction with one or more otherproposed or commercially available pump failure detection systems ifthose other pump failure detection systems are provided withtransmitters of amperage levels.

It should also be appreciated that the pump failure warning system ofthe present disclosure can be employed in conjunction with one or morebattery or otherwise powered back-up pumps if those pumps are providedwith transmitters of amperage levels.

As mentioned above, the pump monitor and the pump failure warning systemof the various embodiments of the present disclosure can be employed forother suitable pumps (besides sump and ejector pumps).

It should be understood that modifications and variations may beeffected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of thepresent invention, and it should be understood that this application isto be limited only by the scope of the claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:
 1. A sump pump monitor for a sump pump in a pit, said sump pump including a pump, an AC electric power source plug, and an automatic float switch, said sump pump monitor comprising: (a) a portable housing including a plurality of walls; (b) an electric plug receptacle physically supported by one of the walls of the housing, the electric plug receptacle configured to receive the AC electric power source plug of the sump pump to enable the sump pump to continuously receive electric current through the sump pump monitor to enable the automatic float switch of the sump pump to turn the pump of the sump pump on when a water level rises above a predetermined level in the pit and to turn the pump of the sump pump off when the water level is below the predetermined level in the pit; (c) an electric power plug physically supported by the housing and configured to be plugged into an electrical power source, wherein the housing, the electric plug receptacle, and the electric power plug are configured to enable the sump pump to continuously receive electric current through the sump pump monitor and enable the sump pump to turn itself on and off; (d) a transmitter physically supported by and positioned in the housing, the transmitter configured to: (i) send out wireless signals through the internet to a remote signal receiving device, and (ii) receive wireless signals from the remote signal receiving device through the internet; (e) a light emitting diode (LED) indicator supported by housing, the LED indicator configured to display at least two different colors, and configured to display one of the colors to indicate that the sump pump is not working properly; and (f) an electric current characteristic detector physically supported by the housing and configured to continuously monitor an electric current characteristic of the electric current supplied through the sump pump monitor to the sump pump to detect a plurality of different electric current characteristic levels above zero of the sump pump including an operating electric current characteristic level of the sump pump, and to operate with the transmitter to send out signals to the remote signal receiving device to: (i) cause a user access device separate from the remote signal receiving device to display an indication of normal operation of the sump pump; and (ii) enable a determination of a variation from a first normal operating electric current characteristic level above zero for the sump pump to a second different non-normal operating electric current characteristic above zero for the sump pump based on a normal operating electric current characteristic of the sump pump, wherein any such determined variation in operating electric current characteristic level itself is used to determine a failure of part of the sump pump and to cause the user access device to display a warning regarding the failure.
 2. The sump pump monitor of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configured to send out signals to the remote signal receiving device representing electric current characteristic level data.
 3. The sump pump monitor of claim 1, wherein the variation in operating electric current characteristic from the first normal operating electric current characteristic level above zero for the sump pump to the second non-normal operating electric current characteristic level above zero for the sump pump is one of: (1) a normal running electric current characteristic level to a non-normal higher running electric current characteristic level; and (2) a normal running electric current characteristic level to a non-normal lower running electric current characteristic level.
 4. The sump pump monitor of claim 1, wherein the LED indicator is also configured to indicate that the sump pump is working properly.
 5. The sump pump monitor of claim 1, which includes an onboard computer physically supported by and positioned in the housing, wherein the onboard computer is initiated with the first normal operating electric current characteristic level for the sump pump.
 6. The sump pump monitor of claim 1, which includes an onboard computer physically supported by and positioned in the housing, wherein the onboard computer is initiated with a plurality of different normal operating electric current characteristic levels, and the onboard computer is configured to operate in an initiation mode to determine which of the different normal operating electric current characteristic levels is appropriate for the sump pump.
 7. The sump pump monitor of claim 1, which includes an onboard computer physically supported by and positioned in the housing, wherein the onboard computer is configured to operate in an initiation mode to determine the normal operating electric current characteristic level of the sump pump.
 8. The sump pump monitor of claim 1, which includes an onboard computer physically supported by and positioned in the housing, wherein the onboard computer is configured to receive at least one signal from a remote device that indicates the normal electric current characteristic level of the sump pump.
 9. The sump pump monitor of claim 1, which includes an onboard computer physically supported by and positioned in the housing, and which includes an input device physically supported by the housing and connected to the onboard computer and configured to enable an input of the normal operating electric current characteristic of the sump pump.
 10. The sump pump monitor of claim 1, which includes a switch supported by the housing.
 11. The sump pump monitor of claim 1, wherein the remote device is a smart phone having an application downloaded to the smart phone that is associated with the sump pump monitor. 